The Netherlands government signed a grant arrangement worth more than €20-million earlier in November, in Amsterdam, Netherlands, which will fund the execution of the Greater Maputo Water Supply Expansion project to supply potable water to 650 000 people in Maputo, Mozambique.

The project plan was developed by Mozambique water supply company Fipag, international engineering and project management consultancy Royal HaskoningDHV and water utility partner Vitens Evides International (VEI).

The signing ceremony took place at the Amsterdam International Water Week, which was held from November 2 to 6. The grant arrangement was signed by Netherlands deputy director-general of international cooperation Reina Buijs and Mozambique Public Works, Housing and Water Resources Minister Carlos Martinho.

The government of Netherlands is funding the execution of the project through its Facility of Infrastructure Development fund.

Currently, there is no potable water being supplied to the north of Maputo, which is undergoing significant expansion to meet the rapidly expanding population of the city.

Fipag CEO Pedro Paulino says: “The new sustainable water supply system will provide good-quality drinking water [through] public infrastructure for 650 000 inhabitants in northern Maputo.

“The Netherlands and Mozam-bique have established a sound partnership, providing funding and expertise to extend and improve water supply services in Mozambique. “This project is a vital part of the Corumana system and will help to improve living conditions. It will also be future-proofed to accommodate growth in the urban population.”

The Greater Maputo Water Supply Expansion project is part of the World Bank-funded Corumana water supply system and will include three new drinking-water distribution centres, mains pipework, primary and secondary distribution lines, as well as nearly 1 000 km of tertiary network and more than 120 000 new household connec- tions.

Royal HaskoningDHV and VEI are preparing the detailed design and tender documents for the system and it is anticipated that construction works will start at the end of 2016.

“It is challenging and exciting to develop a water supply system in a large and rapidly urbanising area. We are proud . . . to make a significant difference in the lives of so many people,” says Royal HaskoningDHV project manager Michel Riemersma.

VEI project director Adriaan Mels adds that the grant “comes at a time when we are celebrating 40 years of collaboration between Mozambique and the Netherlands. “It is a huge milestone in the long-standing relationship between Fipag and the Dutch water sector.”

VEI and Royal HaskoningDHV will continue their involvement in the project throughout the implementation, and operation and maintenance phases.